Sewer cleaning apparatus



March 30, 1937. J. o. MAGRUDER 2,075,215

SEWER CLEANING APPARATUS Filed July 24, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

JOHN O. MAGRUDER,

BY/bmg I ATTORNEY.

March 30, 1937. J. o. MAGRU DER 2,075,215

SEWER CLEANING APPARATUS Filed July 24, 1935 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR'.

JOHN O. MAGRUDER,

AT/Q Ca ATTORNEY.

March 30, 1937. J. o. MAGRUDER SEWER CLEANING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 24, 1955 ll-IIIIL WIIIIIIII/l INVENTOR. \JOHN OMAGRUDER /y w wdf ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 30, 1937 SEWER CLEANING APPARATUS John 0. Magruder, Los Angeles, Calif., asslgnor of one-half to George H. Werfelman, Los Angeles,

Calif.

Application July 24, 1935, Serial No. 32,887

10 Claims. (Cl. 242-90) This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for clearing sewer-pipe of stoppages or cleaning the interior of any pipe without dis- 1:; mantling the Same.'j; The principal object of myinvention is to provide a machine of simple andpracticable construction including a reel-wheel upon which a wire of considerable length is wound and which is mounted for rotation on its axis to pay out and retract the wire and whichis mounted in a frame whose independent axis of rotation is in alignment with the length of wire extending,

into the sewer-pipe and at right angles to the axis of rotation of said wheel, together with 1 means to rotate said wheel in either direction A further object of my invention is the pro vision of means to actuate the frame to turn about upon its axisat a constant speed and at a relatively rapid rate whereby the wire paid out is caused to rotate to effectively energize the tool at the end thereof to dislodge the stopp e matter in the pipe and to simultaneously rotate 30 the reel through novel variable speed devices in combination with differential apparatus driving the reel from the movement of the frame whereby the reel may be actuated at predetermined relative speeds with respect to the rotation of 35 the frame and in either of.its rotary directions. A still further object of the invention is to provide means to retain the wire upon the reel in a compact coil unaffected by the centrifugal effect produced by the relatively rapid whirling 40 of the frame and reel mounted thereon, said means comprising suitable spring-clips to retain the wire and spring-clamps acting upon the wire to clutch the same close to the rim of the reel and openable in the rotative movements of the reel to admit of the wire entering or leaving the clips.

Other objects and advantages residing in my invention, and objects relating to details of construction and various arrangements and adaptations of parts thereof, will be fully set forth in the course of the detailed description to follow. The accompanying drawings illustrate by way of example a representative form of my inven- 55 tion, in which:

Figure l is a plan view of apparatus embodying my invention, partly broken away.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation of the machine showing in detail and on an enlarged scale the driving and controlling devices thereof.

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of the variable speed control-lever, as shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view in cross-section, of the rotative frame and associated parts.

Fig. 6 is a plan view-of the driving-pulley assembly illustrating the variable-speed devices employed.

Fig. 7 is a detail view in side elevation of a spring-clip element of the inventiontaken transversely of the wire-reel.

Fig. 8 is a detail view in side elevation of a spring-clamp element of the invention, shown in broken lines in open condition.

Referring to said views, the reference numeral Ill indicates the lower horizontal structural elements of a carriage supported upon casters, such as l I, and I 2 designates the upper horizontal elements thereof, connected by suitable frame-work l3 to form a relatively light and rigid mobile support for the apparatus to be described. A frame comprising the longitudinal side-bars l5 and end-bars I6, is mounted to rotate on its major axis longitudinally of the carriage, the end-bars 16 being provided with trunnions l1 and I8 rigid therewith and respectively rotatable in anti-friction bearings 20 and M mounted upon the horizontal elements I2 of the carriage. A grooved pulley-wheel 22 is keyed at 23 to the trunnion l1 and is operatively connected by a belt 25 with a pulley-wheel 26 secured to a motorshaft 21 actuated by a motor 28 seated on the lower horizontal structure In of the carriage whereby the frame is rotated at a considerable speed about its longitudinal axis.

,A shaft 30 is mounted transversely of the frame to rotate in bearings 3| and 32 rigidly connected to the side-bars I5. A reel-wheel 33 consisting of a hub 35, spokes 36 and a circular peripheral rim 3'! is keyed to said shaft and is arranged to be rotated thereon through a bevelgear 38 keyed to said shaft and driven through a bevel-pinion 40 in a manner to be presently described. Spring-clips 4| are secured to the rim 31 at spaced intervals to receive and reliably retain the wire 42 and 7 intermediate said clips spring-pressed clamps 43 are provided toengage continuous length and is secured at one end to said rim by taping or clamping, or other convenient method and its opposite end extends through a tube 45 fixedly secured to a trans- 6 verse member 46 of the frame and thence extends through a hollow-shaft 4'! journaled axially in the tubular trunnion l1 and is thus led from the machine in the axis of rotation of the frame through a hardened steel tip 48 and at 10 its extremity is formed in or is provided with a suitable tool 50 adapted to the work of dislodging the stoppage matter with which the sewer-pipe may be plugged. Said frame and wheel may be actuated in either direction in their respective modes-of rotation so that two tubes 45 are provided uniting in a common outlet 5| while the respective tubes are divergingly directed in arcs substantially corresponding oppositely to the radius of the reel-wheel 33.

It has been stated that the frame is rotated upon its trunnions I I and I3 which will cause the wire extending through the hollow shaft 41 and the tool 50 to rotate and such action, when the wire and tool are advanced into the sewer-pipe, causes the chief effectiveness of the apparatus in cleaning out the plugged pipe. Together with such rotary movement given to the wire the wire may be advanced or retracted while the rotary movement is effected and such action simultaneous with the rotary movement of the tool is extremely eflicacious in removing the stoppage material. Such relative movement of the wire is accomplished through the rotation of the reel 33 upon .the shaft 30.

35 The pinion in mesh with the gear 38 is keyed to a shaft 52 mounted for rotation longitudinally of the frame and having keyed thereto at its opposite end a gear-wheel 53 in mesh with a toothed-pinion 55 keyed at 56 on the hollow-shaft 40 41. At the opposite end of said hollow-shaft a grooved pulley 51 is keyed of somewhat smaller diameter than the pulley 22 and is connected by a belt 58 with a variable-speed pulley indicated generally by the numeral 50 keyed to the motorshaft 21, the belt 58 being provided with a suitable tightening device 5|.

The variable-speed pulley 60 comprises a fixed member 62 keyed to the shaft 2'! and a member 53 splined at 65 on said shaft to open and close 50 its angular groove 66 to receive the belt 58 at extreme positions corresponding to those shown by broken lines 58 and 58" or at any desired position intermediate thereof,as determined by the location of the movable member 63. Said movable member is controlled by a lever 51 pivoted at 68 and connected to the pulley-member through a yoke 13. The upper end of said lever is provided with a latch-bar 'll engageable with a notched quadrant l2 and controlled by a handoperated toggle device 13 to secure the lever and consequently the movable pulley-member in set position.

The frame may be driven at a constant speed but the pulley 51 and shaft 41 with the pinion 55 55 are driven at speeds even to or slightly in excess or slightly under the speed of the frame through the selective position of the belt 58 in the pulley 50 whereby such excess speed will cause the pinion 55 to drive the gear-wheel 53 in one direction, to actuate the reel through the bevel-gears 3B and 40, with the effect, for example, of paying out wire upon the reel, while if the shaft 41 is driven under the speed of the trunnion H the differential in speed will cause the reel to turn 5 in the opposite direction to draw in the wire.

Thus the two main movements, that of the frame to whirl the reel and wire about its own axis, and that of the reel about its independent axis to pay out or draw in the wire are effected simultaneously and with a minimum of mechanical complication. An intermediate position of the belt 58 may be found wherein the rotation of the shaft 41 and the trunnion H are equal whereupon the reel will be stationary on its axis.

The trunnion l 'l is provided with a brake-drum I5 engageable by a brake-band l6 actuated by a lever 11 to check the rotation of the frame at the will of the operator.

The spring-clips 4|, see Fig. 7, are each formed of spring-metal bows 18 secured at their midportion to the outer side of the rim 31 and which are spaced apart at their extremities. Said bows are each slotted adjacent their said extremities wherethrough the contiguous outwardly diverging ends 8| of a looped spring 82 are passed, the medial portion of said spring extending about the rim 31. Thus in the revolutions of the reel to wind the wire thereon the wire will be guided by the respective tube 45 between the ends 8| of the springs 82 to enter the clips where it is retained with the co-operation of the springclamps 43 until again withdrawn in the opposite rotation of the reel. The juxtaposition of the spring-ends 8i and the narrow limits afforded in their distension as governed by their interference with the ends of the clip-bows l8 ensures that but the one strand of wire will be released.

Experience has proven that it is difficult to coil wire tightly upon a reel when it is in a state of rapid revolution on an axis transverse to its immediate axis of revolution, as the centrifugal force developed in the wire when being coiled in while subjected to this expanding force causes the coils of wire to seek the outer limits of the spring-clips 4| and even to be thrown out between the spring-ends 8|. To avoid this objection I have provided a plurality of spring-clamps 43, see Fig. 8, each comprising a support 83 rigidly mounted on the rim 3'! intermediate the spring-clips 4|. The clamp-arm 85 is pivotally mounted at 86 on said support and is resiliently pressed toward the rim or against the bunch of wire coiled within the spring-clips by a spring 81. Another arm 88 is surmounted by a channeled roller 90 which is arranged to engage the suitably shaped cam-edge 9| of a plate 92 rigidly mounted in the forward portion of the frame and symmetrically with respect to the major axis thereof to the end that upon the respective clips 4| approaching the tube 45 wherethrough the wire is directed to the hollow shaft 41' the clamp immediately in advance thereof will engage the cam ill to open the clamp and allow the wire to pay out and upon the clamp passing beyond such earn the clamp will close and retain the wire in bunched condition as described. Thus the clamps are opened in turn as they approach the position where the wire leaves or is wound upon the reel and as the clamps are always closed at all other portions of the periphery of the reel and the wire is retained reliably in close engagement to the rim 3'! regardless of the speed of rotation of the frame. It will be further seen that the converse operation will take place in the rotation of the wheel to take in the wire and that the clamps will be opened to allow the wire to enter the clips as it passes through the tubes 45 and will then close to retain it tightly. I I

The operation of my apparatus will be evident from the detailed description given. It should be stated, however, that with the use of my invention lengths of sewer-pipe of over six hundred feet are readily cleaned of all obstructions with the labor of but a single man where hereto- 5 fore large sectionsof pipe have been excavated to obtain the same results. The relatively high speed of rotation of the wire and tool 50 whips the tool about in the pipe and tears and hooks into the obstruction of whatever nature and then by alternately advancing and retracting the tool an extremely effective clearing agent is provided. Having described my invention, what I claim, is:

l. Sewer cleaning apparatus, comprising a car- 5 riage, a frame revolubly mounted in said carriage upon trunnions disposed in the longitudinal axis of the frame, one of said trunnions being tubular, a hollow-shaft rotatably borne in said tubular trunnion, a wire-reel rotatably mounted in said frame having its axis of rotation disposed at right angles to the axis of rotation of the frame, operative connections to drive said reel from'said shaft, and means to drive said tubular trunnion and said shaft to simultaneously and independently rotate said frame and said reel.

2. Sewer cleaning apparatus, comprising a carriage, a frame revolubly mounted in said carriage upon trunnions disposed in the longitudinal axis of the frame, one of said trunnions being tubular, a hollow-shaft rotatably borne in said tubular trunnion, a wire-reel rotatably mounted in said frame having its axis of rotation disposed at right angles to the axis of rotation of the frame, means to drive said frame through said tubular trunnion at a constant speed, and means to rotate said reel on its said axis of rotation through said shaft at variable speeds in either rotary direction.

3. Sewer cleaning apparatus, comprising a car- 40 riage, a frame revolubly mounted in said car- 45 in said frame having its axis of rotation disposed at right angles to the axis of rotation of the frame, means to drive said frame through said tubular trunnion at a constant speed, and means to rotate said reel on its said axis of rotation 50 through said shaft at variable speeds and in either rotary direction.

4. Sewer cleaning apparatus, comprising a carriage, a frame revolubly mounted in said carriage upon trunnions disposed in the longitudinal axis of the frame, one of said trunnions being tubular, a hollow-shaft rotatably borne in said tubular trunnion, a wire-reel rotatably mounted in said frame having its axis of rotation disposed at right angles to the axis of rotation of the 0 frame, means to direct wire from said reel through said hollow-shaft, means to drive said frame through said tubular trunnion at a constant speed, and means to rotate said reel on its said axis of rotation through said shaft. at 5 variable speeds and in either rotary direction.

5. Sewer cleaning apparatus, comprising a carriage, a frame revolubly mounted in said carriage, one of the axes of rotation of the frame being tubular, a shaft rotatably journaled in 0 said tubular axis, a wire-reel rotatably mounted in said frame having its axis of rotation disposed at right angles to the axis of rotation of the frame, means to rotate said reel on its axis from said shaft, means to drive said frame and said shaft simultaneously and from the same source of power, said means including variable speed devices to effect the rotation of said shaft and reel in either rotary direction and at desired speeds relative to the rotation of the frame.

6. Sewer cleaning apparatus, comprising'a carriage, a frame revolubly mounted in said carriage having a tubular trunnion at one end on which it is rotated, a shaft rotatably journaled in said trunnion, a wire-reel rotatably mounted in said frame having its axis of rotation disposed at right angles to the axis of rotation of the frame, a motor, means to actuate said frame from said motor, variable speed devices to actu-' ate said shaft from said motor, a toothed pinion keyed on said shaft, and drive connections between said reel and said pinion including a planetary gear operable by said pinion, and means to actuate said variable speed devices to obtain a differential in the related speeds between said frame and said reel whereby the reel may be actuated in either rotary direction upon its axis.

'7. In sewer cleaning apparatus, a reel upon which a coil of wire is wound, means to rotatably actuate said reel, a plurality of spring-clips mounted on the rim of said reel to receive the wire therein, each said clip comprising a pair of relatively rigid bows having their ends spaced apart and slotted adjacent their ends, and a spring having its ends extending through said slots and resiliently closingthe space between said bow-ends.

8. In sewer cleaning apparatus, in combination with a reel-wheel, means torotate said reel, means to receive wire upon said reel, a plurality of spring-pressed clamps mounted on said reel and arranged to press the wire into close relation to the reel-rim, and means to open said clamps at a predetermined point in the rotation of the reel to release a coil of said wire.

9. In sewer cleaning aparatus, in combination with a reel-wheel, means to rotate said reel, a plurality of wire-receiving clips spaced apart on the rim of said reel to receive a coil of wire therein, a plurality of spring-pressed clamps arranged to press the wire into close relation to the rim of the reel, and a cam arranged to be engaged by said clamps at a predetermined point in the revolution of the reel to open said clamps and release the wire.

10. In sewer cleaning apparatus, in combination with a rotatable frame, a reel-wheel mounted for rotation in said frame with its axis of rotation at right angles to the axis of rotation of the frame, a plurality of clips rigidly secured to the rim of said reel to receive the wire wound thereon, a plurality of spring-pressed clamps to press the wire in close proximity to said rim, a tube secured in said frame through which said wire is directed from the reel, and a cam arranged to engage said clamps in the rotation of the reel and to open the same at the point where said wire is drawn from said reel and through said tube. I

JOHN O. MAGRUDER. 

